Alonso: 'Strange' F1 schedule putting mechanics 'on the limit'

Fernando Alonso says the demanding schedule of the back half of the 2021 Formula 1 season is "strange" and putting the teams' mechanics "on the limit".

Teams are set to undertake in Brazil this weekend the second led of a grueling two-continent triple-header that started in Mexico City last weekend and will continue in Qatar next week.

Alonso admitted that the organization of the sport's agenda was anything but comfortable.

"This triple-header is not the most convenient," explained the Alpine driver. "Every race is separated by 12 hours [on a] plane or something like that. And we have to race three consecutive weekends.

"It's important for the team, for the mechanics to save energy. They are in the garage, packing everything, they will finish late, they will take a plane, arrive in Brazil, and they will pack everything and mount the garage. So it is on the limit for them, for sure.

"Hopefully we find better solutions for the calendar, because Austin is one hour and a half from Mexico. And we were two weeks ago in Austin.

"It feels strange that some races are separated two weeks and some of the races that are in another continent they are back-to-back."

Much of the construction of this year's schedule, which was tweaked and revised several times as cancellations were confirmed, remained dependent on Covid-19 travel restrictions and the evolution of the UK's "red zone" restricted list.

The spacing and order of F1's events was organized in a way to minimize travel restriction risks and to safeguard the ability for F1 personnel to return to their team's bases in the UK without undergoing mandatory quarantines.

Next year's calendar will feature 23 races and more double and triple-headers for teams. Aston Martin's Lance Stroll argued in favour of a more balanced approach that puts less strain on team members.

• Read also: Expanded F1 schedule must be 'sustainable' for personnel - Vettel

"I understand there's a motive financially to increase the number of races and expand the sport," he said.

"But I think there has to be a balance thinking of the mechanics, the engineers, and all of the personnel in Formula 1, that have families at home, that travel around the world and dedicate a lot of their times to go racing.

"I think there still has to be a balance where F1 takes a break and gives a chance to people to go home, see their families, spend some time doing other things, and then we come back and we take racing very seriously.

"I don't think it should become out-of-hand ridiculous 25 race calendar seasons. It looks like it's heading that way, but I think that F1 should also think about the personnel, and their families."

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